I’ve been working on this site for just about two months now. As part of that, I subscribe to the feed of several other wedding sites – Christian and secular. It is good to keep my finger on the pulse of the wedding community as a whole.
Sometimes I get inspiration for new articles for my site from this. I read something on a secular site and think, “Oh yeah, I need to cover that from the Christian perspective.” Or, I read something on a Christian site and think, “No, I disagree with that. I am going to write an article giving my perspective.”
Another reason I follow other sites is to ensure that my content is genuinely unique and valuable. If my site is simply a mirror of what is already out there, everybody loses.
For example, I also follow a lot of personal finance sites. When everybody is covering the same topic and basically regurgitating the same old message, I tend to tune out all of the sites. Not only do the copycats lose but the original author loses as well. Most importantly, as the intended audience of these articles, the reader loses. I read to learn new information. I can’t help but wonder what I could learn from these copycats if they would focus on developing their own message instead of copying someone else’s. This doesn’t mean they have to reinvent the wheel. I would be interested in reading several articles on the same topic IF each article contributes something new to the community and conversation. But, when an article has nothing new to say beyond copying what somebody else wrote, I don’t read it.
To bring it back to wedding planning, if I didn’t have something new and valuable to say, my site would be nothing more than a scheme to make money. A scheme I would be perpetrating in the Lord’s name. I’ve said it elsewhere and I’ll say it again, my website is a ministry first and foremost.
The reason I’m going on this little rant is because there is one site in particular that I have noticed something really strange. Every time I write a new article, this other site changes some of its pages so that they sound an awful lot like mine. Some of my phrases have been changed ever so slightly. At first I thought I was just paranoid, but it has happened more than once.
I know what they say, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery.” I appreciate that.
There is a flip side to that. It’s called theft.
Not only is it a sin against God, but it is illegal.
In fact, I have talked to the ISP for the offending website. They advised me to monitor the situation as they will shut down this site if the content theft continues.
I am really upset and angry about this situation. I have not filed a formal complaint yet as I really do not want to see this other person lose their business. They have some really good content out there and it would be a shame to lose that voice. Sadly, that is already happening. Every time this site copies me, the place and voice God gave that site to have has been silenced. At the same time, I put considerable time, effort and prayer into my articles. I don’t appreciate my hard work being stolen like that – especially by another site professing Christ. This just should not be.
So, to this thief in particular and any would be thieves in general, please do me and the rest of the world a favor. Quit copying me – or any other websites. Your voice really is good enough. You don’t need mine.
